This is Sacramento (a Full Time Fabulous community event)

Sacramento is the state capital of California.

It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. 

Sacramento is a river town. Known as Sac, Sactown, Sacratomato, it is also called The City of Trees, with more tree per capita than any other city in the world.

Sacramento is located on Interstate 80, midway between San Francisco and the eastern California border with Nevada. It is about 90 miles northeast of San Francisco and 383 miles north of Los Angeles. Other nearby communities include Parkway-South Sacramento, West Sacramento, East Yolo, Florin, Arden-Arcade, La Riviera, Rosemont and Rio Linda.

Sacramento is a river town.

It is also my home town. 

Here are some dry facts about my hometown, Sacramento:

• The population of Sacramento County is approximately 467, 000
• Sacramento is positioned 38.56 degrees north of the equator and 121.46 degrees west of the prime meridian.
• The amount of land area in Sacramento is 249.397 sq. kilometers.
• The amount of land area in Sacramento is 96.34 sq. miles.
• Sacramento elevation is 25 feet above sea level.
• The climate for Sacramento is Mediterranean with mild winters and dry summers. There is usually low humidity in the area. Light rainfall usually falls between December and February.
• Sacramento average annual rainfall is 17.18 inches per year
• The average winter temperature is 53.5 degrees F.
• The average spring temperature is 64.0 degrees F.
• The average summer temperature is 88.0 degrees F.
• The average fall temperature is 72 degrees F.

Sacramento was founded in 1849 and has been California's capital since 1854. The town was started by Captain John A. Sutter. He called it New Helvetia, a haven for his Swiss Countrymen. When gold was discovered in 1848, most of the workers left the town to hunt gold, leaving Sutter in ruins. He lost his fort in the aftermath. The Gold Rush of 1848 drew thousands to its borders and the population soared within months. Once the gold fever was gone, Sacramento was found to have more to offer its people than just gold. It became a center for trade in a greatly productive agricultural area.

Sacramento is culturally diverse, home to a mix of races and cultures. 
This rich diversity has helped shape the distinctive culture of Sacramento.
Along with thriving Caucasian and African-American populations, there is a a large Hispanic community including Mexicans, Mexican-Americans, as well as the newer flux of Russians, Vietnamese, Hmong, Chinese, and Pacific Islanders. Each subsequent wave of immigration adds an indelible flavor and color to the "River City." 

A walk in my neighborhood. Curtis Park, Sacramento

Being a "Sac-towner" has probably been the biggest influence on my way of dress. My love of retro, my preference for idiosyncratic dressing, my mix of blue-collar with art-house American is all very typical of a Sacramento denizen. We hold a strong love for personal expression, individualism and have a good tolerance of eccentricity. My scattered patch of tattoos, (and former piercings) are a very Sacramento thing, and there is hardly a self-respecting Midtowner who doesn't have an intense collection of vintage clothing or some articulated love of Craftsman or mid-century Modern. 

There is something inherent in the character of a Sacramento native that ties him/her to the past. Perhaps its our rich Wild West history, with our city roots deeply dug into its Gold Rush days, but it seems common that whatever the generation, a Sacramentan  holds a nostalgic attachment to a previous time in history. For me, it's the 1960's, and for many of my generation it was 1950's rockabilly, 60's mod, and/or late '70's punk rock; for the new upstarts (the kids under 25) it's a perverse fondness for the 1980's replete with a love for acid brights, big hair, high waisted shorts and VHS tape collections.

This has been a Full Time Fabulous community event. 

It is part of a group post organized by Kristy Elena of Sunglass Hut's Full Time Fabulous blog. The theme was "Contra Unus," which translate from the Latin meaning "on the other hand there is one,"and the intent was for our global Full Time Fabulous community to share our individual place, or heritage. For me, it is all about Sacramento.

You can check out more Contra Unus posts over at http://fulltimefabulous.com

You can get a taste of Sacramento flavor at the official Sacramento tourist website: DiscoverGold.org

Sources: USA Cities Online, Wikipedia, Sac Area Connect Statistics

More Stats about Sacramento can be found here, and here and here.

Speaking of ME and Sacramento, I was recently nominated for the KCRA A-List best local Blogger, and I need your votes to win! You can register and vote for me

by clicking here.

Now Wearing: 

• Hello Kitty Barrette, worn since 1990's
• Red sunglasses, last year from Target
• 1950's hand-made vintage dress, bought in the 1990's
• Big belt from Target 
• Sacramento label, Butt Ugly Bag
• Socks 4 Life novelty socks, giveaway prize from The Fashionista Next Door
• Coach espadrilles wedges